"They will be able to land on the far side and the polls, they will learn how to "live off the land". Extracting water and oxygen. Learning how to do these things paves the way for Mars."
I don't think we should be spending money now going to the Moon so that we can spend even more later to go to Mars. But setting that aside for a moment, do we have to go to the Moon to develop these techniques? Can't we replicate the environmental conditions and do the R&D and testing here more cheaply and safely?
"Can't we replicate the environmental conditions and do the R&D and testing here more cheaply and safely?"
We learn by doing. We learn by flying. We learn by going. By touching. By making mistakes. By challenging ourselves in ways we never have before. We cant stay in the safe cradle of earth forever. Nor are we capable of that. Humans are driven to explore. It is why we are here at all.
Cheaper, safer?
That is not the essence of exploration. And exploration is part of the essence of humankind.
Great risk brings great rewards. There are no shortcuts.